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Costa Rica opens mega-prison modeled on Bukele's El Salvador approach

President Fernandez inaugurates 5,100-capacity CACCO as right-wing leaders across Latin America embrace hardline security policies.

newest coverage 4h agosummary written 3h ago8 pieces13 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Costa Rica opened a 5,100-capacity mega-prison (CACCO) modeled on El Salvador's hardline security approach as homicides rose to near-record levels.
  • The Bukele model—mass arrests, emergency powers, and mega-prisons—has spread across Latin America, with leaders in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil adopting similar policies.
  • Rights groups document severe abuses in existing mega-prisons: mass trials without due process, detained defendants, overcrowding, and alleged torture.
  • El Salvador's emergency declaration, credited with reducing homicides, remains continuously extended since 2022 and has been criticized as weaponized against government critics.

“Critics have warned that conditions inside mega-prisons are often poor, with imprisoned people facing overcrowding, due process violations and alleged torture in facilities like CECOT.”

Rights groups and critics (unspecified), Human rights advocates · Al Jazeera ↗ · Oct 14

Laura Fernandez President of Costa RicaNayib BukeleNayib Bukele President of El SalvadorKeiko FujimoriKeiko Fujimori President of Peru (inaugurated July 2026)Abelardo de la EspriellaAbelardo de la Espriella President of Colombia (took office August 2026)Flavio BolsonaroFlavio Bolsonaro Right-wing Senator, Brazil presidential candidateGabriel Aguilar Justice Minister of Costa Rica

Costa Rica opens mega-prison modeled on Bukele's El Salvador approach
aljazeera.com

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  1. upcoming

    Mega-prison model spreads across Latin American right-wing campaigns — Multiple right-wing leaders have embraced the Bukele model. In Brazil's ongoing presidential election, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has advanced to the final round with a platform including five mega-prisons. Critics warn that conditions in existing mega-prisons involve overcrowding, due process violations, and alleged torture.

  2. upcoming

    Costa Rica inaugurates CACCO mega-prison — President Laura Fernandez opened the High-Containment Centre Against Organised Crime (CACCO) with capacity for 5,100 inmates, representing about 20 percent of the country's current prison population. First transfers are scheduled for end of October.

  3. background

    Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella takes office — De la Espriella campaigned for the presidency on a pledge to build 10 mega-prisons modeled on El Salvador's approach and took office in August.

  4. background

    Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori takes office and plans El Salvador tour — Fujimori, inaugurated in July 2026, announced plans to visit El Salvador's CECOT facility to study the mega-prison model for replication in Peru. CECOT can hold approximately 40,000 people.

  5. background

    Costa Rica records near-record homicides — Costa Rica, historically spared from high violent crime, saw 905 homicides in 2023, followed by 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Analysts attribute the rise partly to increased fighting between criminal groups over drug routes.

  6. background

    El Salvador imposes 'state of exception' under Bukele — Nayib Bukele's government implemented an emergency declaration expanding police and military powers to combat gang violence. The measure has been credited with reducing homicides but rights groups say it enabled severe rights abuses, mass arrests without charge, and weaponization against government critics.